Cattle Egret ( Bubulcus ibis)

In recent days, there have been many sightings of this rare species in Ticino.

From Ligornetto to Claro, from Taverne to Locarno, from Coldrerio to Lugaggia: in recent days, Ficedula—the Association for the Study and Conservation of Birds in Italian-speaking Switzerland—has been receiving many phone calls and photographs of “strange” herons roaming the Ticino countryside.

These are Cattle Egrets, a small heron with white plumage, a short neck, and a yellow bill—a rare species in Ticino. During the breeding season, adults display more colorful plumage with orange feathers on the crown, nape, and back.

It is the least aquatic of all herons and is often seen in fields, where it frequently follows tractors. It often accompanies herds of domestic animals, even perching on their backs to feed on parasites—hence its name, “cattle heron.”

In recent years, there has been an increase in the population in Europe, and the number of overwintering animals has also risen significantly. In Ticino, the first sightings were reported a few years ago, but they always involved a single individual or just a few more.

What has been happening in recent days, however, is an unusual phenomenon. The largest group reported consists of as many as twenty individuals all together. The public’s help is essential to understanding the scale and progression of this event.

In recent weeks, Ficedula has been collecting data for the second Winter Bird Atlas of Ticino, comparing the findings with those of the first edition published 30 years ago. The Cattle Egret is a welcome surprise among the wintering birdlife of our canton!

Ficedula therefore invites everyone to report any sightings of this rare heron by emailing segreteria.ficedula@gmail.com or calling 079 207 14 07.